NOC
NOC3000X3 Black Orange Human
€13.95
NOC · Playing Cards
NOC, playing cards by Alex Pandrea for minimalist cardistry. Original, Sport, Pro and NOC3000 series. Online shop in Europe at The Joker House.
NOC is a playing card brand created by Alex Pandrea, American cardist and founder of House of Playing Cards (HOPC). Since 2014, NOC has become one of the references of minimalist cardistry: a clean design based on solid colour bands, centred typography and a geometric back, with no filigree or ornamentation. Printed at USPCC with Air-Cushion finish, the catalogue is structured in several series (Original, Sport, Summer, Pro, NOC3000, NOC Out) aimed at different profiles within cardistry and visual magic.
Who makes NOC? Alex Pandrea and House of Playing Cards
NOC was launched in 2014 by Alex Pandrea, a professional cardist with a long track record at The Blue Crown and Theory11. The idea was to create a minimalist, affordable deck available in many colours so any cardist could build a consistent collection without paying premium-edition prices.
The label is House of Playing Cards (HOPC) and it ships internationally through Murphys Magic. All production is printed at USPCC (Erlanger, Kentucky), the same factory that makes Bicycle, Bee and Tally-Ho, which ensures the classic American stock and the Air-Cushion finish that professional cardistry considers standard.
NOC Original, Sport, Summer, Pro and NOC3000: the main series
NOC Original (V1, V2, V3, V3S)
The base line. Minimalist design with a centred band, simple typography and a uniform back. It comes in many palettes (red, blue, green, yellow, pink, black…). It is the standard entry point into the NOC ecosystem.
Cardistry · Daily practiceNOC Sport
Matte-finish version with a more vivid palette. Aimed at those looking for a different feel from the standard Air-Cushion while keeping the recognisable NOC design.
Cardistry · Heavy useNOC Pro, NOC3000 and NOC Out
Higher-end series with custom card faces, foiled tucks or collaborations with specific cardists. NOC3000 includes foil on the tuck; NOC Out are limited collabs. They blend the NOC DNA with a more refined finish.
Advanced cardistry · CollectingWhy is NOC the standard deck of minimalist cardistry?
Modern cardistry is built around packets, displays and geometric shapes where the back of the card is the most important visual element. A busy or heavily ornamental back "muddies" the composition; a flat back with a colour band works as a clean canvas.
NOC was one of the first brands to take that idea to a mainstream market. The combination of many available colours, reasonable price and continuous availability quickly made it the default deck for YouTube tutorials and practice sessions. Today it is common to see collections of 20-30 different NOC decks among semi-pro cardists.
NOC for cardistry, magic and daily use: how to choose between series
Starting cardistry and learning
Recommended: NOC Original V3 or V3S
It is the best-selling model and the one used in most tutorials. Minimalist design, standard Air-Cushion finish, reasonable durability for long sessions and an accessible price to keep multiple decks.
Visual cardistry and video
Recommended: NOC Sport or NOC Summer
The more vivid palettes and matte finish work especially well to record packets and displays. Creators usually keep several units to coordinate colour combinations.
Collecting and collabs
Recommended: NOC3000, NOC Pro or NOC Out
Foiled series and collaborations with specific cardists have smaller runs and are valued both for use and as sealed collectibles. Good complement for anyone with a NOC Original base setup.
NOC finishes: USPCC, Air-Cushion and differences between Original and Pro
All NOC series are printed at USPCC on standard American stock. The Original line uses the classic Air-Cushion finish, the same as Bicycle Standard. NOC Pro and NOC3000 keep the stock but feature more refined finishes, more saturated print palettes and, in some cases, custom card faces instead of the standard design.
The practical difference between a NOC Original and a NOC Pro is not so much the feel —it is very similar— as the print durability and the quality of the tuck case, usually with foiling and embossing on higher-end series.
Frequently asked questions about NOC
Who manufactures NOC cards?
NOC is a label of House of Playing Cards (HOPC), founded by Alex Pandrea. Printing happens at USPCC (United States Playing Card Company) in Erlanger, Kentucky, the same factory that produces Bicycle, Bee and Tally-Ho.
What's the difference between NOC Original V1, V2 and V3?
They are successive iterations of the base line. Each version tweaks back-design details, the available palette or the tuck composition. V3 and V3S are the latest and the best sellers; V1 and V2 are out of production and mostly appear on the secondary market.
Are NOC better than Bicycle Standard for cardistry?
They share stock and finish (both USPCC, both Air-Cushion), so technically they are very similar. The difference is in the design: NOC has a minimalist back built for visual cardistry, Bicycle Standard has a more ornamental back. For visual flourishing, NOC is the usual standard.
Do NOC decks work for magic?
Yes, although they are not the typical choice of classic magic. The feel is that of any USPCC deck. The minimalist back works well in some modern visual effects, but for traditional close-up magic many magicians still prefer Bicycle, Bee or Tally-Ho.
